Meet in the Middle is an annual Lindy Hop and Blues exchange hosted by the Queen’s Swing Dancing Club in Kingston, Ontario. Join us on January 24th and 25th, 2020 for two nights of sizzling live bands and DJ’d blues, plus a full day of professional Lindy Hop and Blues workshops.
Music
Alex Pangman and Her Alleycats
Since her 1999 debut album “They Say” and follow up “You Can’t Stop Me From Dreaming”, the Toronto-based vocalist has pursued a successful jazz career across Canada, including three outstanding showcases at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Alex Pangman reinvigorates classic jazz with a unique voice and unmistakable passion that has been recognized with nominations at the Junos and in multiple categories at the National Jazz Awards.
Schedule
Workshops
Lindy Hop
The Art of Holding Hands
The simple act of holding hands is what connects us for much of partner dancing. In this class we’ll experiment with different ways to hold hands that help us feel more comfortable and connected with our dance partners.
Fascinating Rhythm
The feel of a song has a huge impact on how we dance to it. In this solo class, we’ll play with embodying the feel of different styles of swing music, and let that guide our dancing.
The Lego Blocks of Lindy Hop
Rock steps and triple steps make of the basic footwork patterns of Lindy Hop, and we can mix and match them to create different effects. We will work on these pieces of footwork and how to put them together like lego blocks.
Let’s Dance!
Everyone has a voice on the dance floor. Whether we’re leading or following, we need to be responsive to our partner (and the music) to dance together. This class will help you work on your dancing conversation skills.
Blues
Close Embrace, Hot Cocoa for your Dance Soul
In this class you will learn close embrace’s historical significance in blues dance, and how it is essential to the blues aesthetic. By the end of this class you will also be able to have comfortable, cozy, and enjoyable dances in close embrace.
Off to the Races: Slow Traveling Dances at the Savoy Ballroom
In this class you will learn how to maintain comfortable close embrace while gliding all over the dance floor, interwoven with historical tidbits and introductions to various black historical slow dances done at the Savoy Ballroom and beyond.
Solo Blues for Lindy Hoppers
There are lots of Solo jazz moves that cross over to blues dance. In this class you’ll learn of those dances idiomatic origins, how to put them into the blues aesthetic, and how best to enjoy then on the dance floor.
Down Home Blues: Jukin’ Stylin’s in Partnership
Do you enjoy the chunky beats and gritty grooves of Chicago and Delta style Blues music? In this class learn how to move your body to this music, and apply some of your freshly learned solo moves in a partnered context.
Instructors
Initially trained in tap, ballet, modern jazz, and figure skating, Hannah found her love for Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz in 2011. Since then she has delved into the music, movement, and history of the swing era. She teaches locally, performs and competes with Girlnacular Jazz and the Swappsydoodles, and loves to swing out to the amazing live jazz being played around Toronto. In her classes Hannah emphasizes the connections we have with each other as dancers, and to the music we are dancing to.
Hannah Bild-Enkin
Skylar has been immersing themselves in jazz culture for over a decade and has been jazz dancing for much of that time. Based in Montreal, she plays in the Cat’s Corner house band, and teaches a variety of jazz dances. She is also passionate about exploring the history and music that created the movements we love. When they are not dancing, Sky is normally thinking about ways of queering Lindy Hop. She values freedom and self-expression in dance and life, and focuses on student-first learning in all of her classes.
Skylar Laidman
Marjorie is a Blues and Lindy Hop DJ and teacher from Philadelpha, PA. She’s been dancing for three years. Her first love was Lindy Hop, but her focus quickly became blues. Her favorite type of blues is Ballroomin’ , bridging the gap between Lindy and Blues. By day she is a software developer, but her previous and ongoing careers include esports and cat mom.
Marjorie Bartell
Bio pending…